What INEC wants from the Senate as Nigeria prepares for 2027 polls

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, has asked the Senate for support as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
He spoke during his first meeting with the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the National Assembly.

The meeting was held to discuss ways to improve Nigeria’s electoral system. Prof. Amupitan was joined by all INEC National Commissioners, the Commission’s Secretary and his technical aides. Several senators, led by the committee chairman, Senator Simon Bako Lalong, were also present.
Prof. Amupitan said his main focus is on electoral reforms, better infrastructure, and improved voter education.

He described the Senate Committee as very important to Nigeria’s democracy, noting that its laws and oversight directly affect how credible elections are conducted. He also thanked the Senate for the thorough confirmation process that led to his appointment.
Speaking about his early days in office, the INEC Chairman recalled the Anambra governorship election held on November 8, 2025.

He said the election was completed in one day, unlike previous experiences. According to him, this success was due to good cooperation among security agencies, INEC staff, the National Assembly and other stakeholders.

He added that the election revealed areas where INEC still needs to improve, especially in logistics and operations.
Prof. Amupitan explained that Nigeria’s electoral process is guided by the Constitution, the Electoral Act and INEC’s regulations.

He stressed that while INEC has the power to conduct elections, it must always act within the law. He praised the National Assembly for allowing INEC to contribute to ongoing constitutional and electoral law reforms.
He said his leadership will give strong support to the National Assembly in carrying out meaningful electoral reforms.

He also promised to strengthen INEC’s infrastructure and carefully use technology to make elections more transparent, credible and inclusive. He noted that public trust and expectations are high, and that INEC must always follow due process and constitutional rules.
The INEC Chairman also said voter education will be given more attention, as informed voters are key to credible elections. He added that good logistics are crucial to successful elections and pointed out that preparations for future polls, including the 2026 FCT Area Council and other off-cycle elections, depend on how quickly electoral reforms are completed.
Earlier, Senator Simon Bako Lalong welcomed Prof. Amupitan and described the meeting as an important step toward strengthening democracy in Nigeria. He said INEC plays a central role in building public trust in governance and that credible elections are the foundation of democracy.
Senator Lalong congratulated the INEC Chairman on his appointment and noted that he took office at a time of high public expectations and new challenges such as technology, voter education, security, logistics and trust.

He assured INEC of the committee’s support through legislation, oversight and policy guidance, while stressing that oversight does not mean interference and that INEC’s independence will be respected.